Gerontology & Geriatric Research

Testing the effects of nursing education on pharmacodynamics in the elderly: The impact on fall rates

International Conference on Geriatrics & Gerontology

July 08-10, 2014 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago-North Shore Conference Center, USA

Joanne M Zanetos

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Gerontol Geriat Res

Abstract:

A pretest-posttest no control group design was conducted to test nursing knowledge on adverse drug reactions and geriatricpharmacology for nursing staff in a skilled rehabilitation center in the Midwest. Twenty-six staff nurses were educated onfundamental geriatric pharmacology and physiological changes occurring during the aging process that can ultimately affectpharmacodynamics in the elderly. Results of a 2-tailed t-test showed a significant increase in posttest scores (t ? test (50) = 3.53,p=0.003). Retrospective fall and medication data collected over two months in 2011 and two months in 2012 were compared.The incidence of falls decreased (44.7%) with total number of residents falling (30.7%) post intervention in 2012. Resultssuggest staff nurses need to have continuing pharmaceutical education and medication management classes about the elderly. These data suggest critical roles for Cr/NF-κB signaling in memory and suggest that the regulation of cellular energyhomeostasis may be one potential mechanism that becomes dysfunctional as we age and in AD. The data also suggest that theuse of Cr might provide resilience to aging and may prevent AD by enhancing mitochondrial function in key areas of the braininvolved in memory processing.

Biography :

Joanne M Zanetos completed her DNP with a specialization in Nursing Education at Duquesne University at 56 years. She completed her MSN and BSN fromCapital University and her ADN from Columbus Technical Institute. She currently works in the Grad-entry program and online RN to BSN program at the Ohio StateUniversity College of Nursing. She is an associated clinical faculty member who also serves in community outreach programs to educate stakeholders on healthand wellness prevention. She serves as a judge in the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum at The Ohio State University. She has recently published her workon associations between drug interactions and falls in the older adult.